Around the Web – Shakespeare’s Language and the Evolution of Human Intelligence
New Covenant School is a PK2 – 12 private Classical Christian school in Anderson, SC.
This article was originally published on the Circe Institute website and has been republished here. “Around the Web” content is provided to promote and encourage conversation and is not necessarily endorsed by New Covenant School.
I was watching a bit of Brannagh’s Hamlet tonight and luxuriating in the language (some of which I understood) when my dear wife asked me for my opinion. “Do you think the groundlings actually understood what was going on in those plays?”
To which I answered yes, but the reasons are probably another blog post.
Then she asked for another opionion. Why do you think people today can’t understand it?
I must warn you, I’m about to say something that will sound caustic. You probably want to cover your children’s ears while you read this.
The reason we can’t understand Shakespeare or read the King James Version of the Bible or grapple with Milton or almost any poetry is because we systematically school children in our culture to become increasingly stupid. Charlotte Mason uses the term “stultify” to describe what we do.
I understand that sounds very harsh, so I need to defend the position.
First let me say that this problem is systemic and cannot be blamed on any particular teacher or parent. Those who govern American education at the highest level are highly irresponsible, do not understand the effect of systems on education, and bear primary responsibility for this folly. In addition, text book publishers have profited immeasurably from poor theory, so they bear high responsibility as well.
What then is the problem?